Identity thief gets 76 months in prison

A Los Angeles man convicted in June for his involvement in an international identity theft scheme was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison, authorities said Wednesday.

The man was arrested in 2011 by Costa Mesa police at South Coast Plaza.

Doren Harold Ward, 37, used credit cards primarily of elderly victims and with the help of British co-conspirators had new credit cards sent to mail drops around Southern California, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

After the credit cards were obtained, Ward and others bought luxury goods from stores, including Louis Vuitton, Ben Bridge Jeweler and Geary’s in Beverly Hills.

Ward was arrested by Costa Mesa investigators in August 2011 trying to buy a $31,000 Rolex, but the arrest didn’t stop his use of fraudulently obtained credit cards, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Federal authorities said there were 45 victims.

A jury convicted Ward of six felonies. During his sentencing, Ward maintained that he did not know the cards belonged to victims of identity theft, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

In addition to serving 76 months in federal prison, a judge ordered Ward to pay $300,000 in restitution at his sentencing Monday.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30